Toure 'devastated' by mistake - Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers refused to blame defender Kolo Toure after his horrendous error allowed West Brom to equalise in the 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns.

Daniel Sturridge put the Reds ahead in the 24th minute, but they could not add to their lead - and former Everton striker Victor Anichebe capitalised on Toure's mistake midway through the second half.

"Kolo is devastated. I said to him sometimes it is the price you pay when you try to play football," Rodgers said after watching his side fail to re-establish their four-point lead in fourth place over Everton.

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"He shouldn't have received the ball in the first place from [ goalkeeper] Simon Mignolet - it wasn't the time to receive it - but that is a part of our learning.

"I've said to the team we are in the position we are because over the last 18 months we have shown the courage and bravery to play football and part of that is to build the game from behind.

"For the first time this season, we got punished for that. He [Toure] is an experienced guy and he knows it was a mistake and he is devastated. There is no blame. He has misplaced a pass, and unfortunately for us it has cost us two points.

"There weren't many chances, but we dominated possession and looked dangerous with the ball, and it was just one of those unfortunate things where we made a mistake and got punished.

"Hopefully in the future we'll see it as a point gained, but I think [the disappointment at drawing] tells you everything about our expectancy."

West Brom counterpart Pepe Mel was pleased with the way his side responded in the second half, when they managed to put his game plan into effect much better than they had in the opening 45 minutes.

"We forgot the way in the first half," the Spaniard said. "Saido Berahino and Matej Vydra were to press the centre-backs, but [Steven] Gerrard being free was a problem for us.

"In the second half, we had a high press with [Youssouf] Mulumbu and [Claudio] Yacob behind doing good work.

"The goal came from a high press and a bad pass. This is the way, a high press together, but it is not possible when only one player does it."